Ashton Hewitt has thanked those who have supported his backing for the Black Lives matter campaign and the revelations over his own experiences of racism in Wales. The Dragons wing – who was called up to train with Wales during this season’s Six Nations – gave a revealing account of his encounters with police as a black rugby player. His interview with the South Wales Argus and other media led to a huge reaction and also provoked debate with fellow former Dragons star Andrew Coombs, who accused protestors in London of violence towards the police.

Robert Jones cherishes each one of his 54 Wales and three British and Irish Lions caps. But the proud son of Trebanos says that Swansea’s 1992 triumph over then World Cup holders Australia means more to him than his victories in a red jersey. The scrum-half played 286 times for the Whites between 1983 and 2002, and was wearing the No.9 shirt when the Wallabies paid a visit to St Helen’s on 4 November 1992. The match will be re-lived on S4C’s Clwb Rygbi, at 6.15pm on Saturday 6 June, and will also be available to watch on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer after broadcast.

Elite sport is slowly returning. Some, like professional football, are preparing to resume competition, but for most it’s about small steps to resume training. But while some sports get on to their starting blocks, others are still waiting outside the stadium – and there is also a difference between Wales and England, as Sport Wales CEO Brian Davies tells Graham Thomas. Sport Wales acting chief executive Brian Davies insists the country’s top athletes will not get left behind their rivals in the race to be ready again for major competitions. Welsh elite athletes in all sports are still waiting for a green light to resume training as some of the lockdown restrictions start to ease across other parts of the UK.

Canadian centre Stephen Dixon is Cardiff Devils’ third import signing for the 2020-21 Elite League ice hockey season. Dixon followed captain Joey Martin and Joey Haddad in committing to the Devils again and there will be more player announcements over the next few weeks. “I’ve enjoyed my time in Cardiff,” said the man from Halifax in Nova Scotia. “Devils are a quality organisation from top to bottom. We have a great group of guys and great fans.”

It was the game that rescued the career of Shane Williams – Wales v New Zealand in the pool stages of the 2003 World Cup. Before the tournament, it looked as if the player who would go on to become Wales’ greatest try-scorer might not even make the plane. He did – just – as a utility third scrum-half and back-up wing.
Tonight, 17 years on, the game is being replayed and re-assessed on S4C where Williams watches the 53-37 defeat for the first time since that day in Sydney . . .

Lauren Price insists she has no concerns about resuming training as she rebuilds towards an appearance at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Wales’ amateur world champion is among 12 elite boxers who will return to training in Sheffield next week as the sport becomes the latest to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic. Members of the GB boxing squad have been in lockdown since the abandonment of the Olympic qualifying tournament in London in March when the scale of the health crisis became apparent.

Newport County and other struggling clubs in Leagues One and Two have been told that football must solve their financial crisis – not the government. With the rest of the season already written off and no prospect of any more gate income until August at the earliest, County and other clubs in the lower two divisions have raised the alarm. Calls have been made for a state-backed plan to help English Football League clubs avoid insolvency in the current coronavirus pandemic.

This year should have been the time Aled Davies secured his status as one of the world’s greatest Paralympians. Champion of the world in 2012 and 2016, he was on for the hat-trick of golden triumphs in Tokyo. He’s disappointed, but there are compensations as Graham Thomas reports. Aled Davies insists fatherhood and the joy of seeing his daughter learn to walk will always shine far brighter than any gold medal. The multiple medalist and world champion should be spending this summer preparing for more glory at the Paralympics in Tokyo.

Run 4 Wales chief Matt Newman believes there is a new influx of “lockdown runners” who will help offset the postponement of organised races in Wales. The man behind the hugely successful Cardiff Half Marathon insists the event can still thrive after organisers confirmed it has been postponed for this year. The third biggest running event in the UK – which was scheduled to take place on October 4 - has been put back to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and it will now go ahead on March 28.

Cardiff Devils have been drawn against Swedish opposition in the Champions Hockey League. Head coach Andrew Lord and his team will face Farjestad Karlstad in a last 32 knockout tie decided over two legs during October with the winners moving forward to face HC Davos or Vienna Capitals in the next round. The Farjestad BK ice hockey team was founded in 1956 and they play out of the Lofbergs Arena.

Hereford

Former Cardiff City defender Chris Barker has died at the age of 39. The popular Yorkshireman served the Bluebirds with distinction from. 2002 to 2007, played in the play-off final win against Queens Park Rangers in 2003 and was voted player of the season in 2005. Dai Sport's Terry Phillips... Read More

Barry Town United have pulled off a signing coup by snapping up National League midfield player Keyon Reffell for the new season.
Playmaker Reffell, a former Cardiff City trainee, turned down a contract offer from Hereford FC to sign for Welsh Premier League Barry.
“This move has probably been 10 years in... Read More

Merthyr Town have signed two former Cardiff City players in their quest for promotion from the EvoStik Southern League Premier.
Lively winger Jamie Bird and goalkeeper Cameron Clarke are the latest new boys who have committed to the Martyrs for 2019-20.
Manager Gavin Williams has strengthened his squad with five new signings... Read More

Welshman Connor Brace, a 7lb claiming jockey attached to Fergal O'Brien's Cotswold yard, has been in cracking form (writes Brian Lee).
He won the opening Juvenile Hurdle on 14-1 outsider Phoenican Star for O'Brien at Stratford.
Star was Connor's sixth winner since the end of last month, having won at meetings all... Read More

Bluebirds past, present and future - a weekly Dai-Sport football column by Terry Phillips
Past . . . . .
Merthyr Tydfil-born Derek Showers, who often attends Bluebirds matches, will surely be at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday when two of his former clubs clash.
Former Wales international Showers, now aged 65, started... Read More

Still Believing, a 10-year-old chestnut mare, has been a good servant to Vale of Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams.
Burdened with top weight of 11st 12lbs and ridden by Mitchell Bastyn she came home a nine lengths winner of the £21,665 George Smith Horseboxes Mares' Handicap Chase at Hereford.
A 9-1 chance, Still... Read More

Recent Posts

Ashton Hewitt has thanked those who have supported his backing for the Black Lives matter campaign and the revelations over his own experiences of racism in Wales. The Dragons wing – who was called up to train with Wales during this season’s Six Nations – gave a revealing account of his encounters with police as a black rugby player. His interview with the South Wales Argus and other media led to a huge reaction and also provoked debate with fellow former Dragons star Andrew Coombs, who accused protestors in London of violence towards the police.

Robert Jones cherishes each one of his 54 Wales and three British and Irish Lions caps. But the proud son of Trebanos says that Swansea’s 1992 triumph over then World Cup holders Australia means more to him than his victories in a red jersey. The scrum-half played 286 times for the Whites between 1983 and 2002, and was wearing the No.9 shirt when the Wallabies paid a visit to St Helen’s on 4 November 1992. The match will be re-lived on S4C’s Clwb Rygbi, at 6.15pm on Saturday 6 June, and will also be available to watch on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer after broadcast.

Elite sport is slowly returning. Some, like professional football, are preparing to resume competition, but for most it’s about small steps to resume training. But while some sports get on to their starting blocks, others are still waiting outside the stadium – and there is also a difference between Wales and England, as Sport Wales CEO Brian Davies tells Graham Thomas. Sport Wales acting chief executive Brian Davies insists the country’s top athletes will not get left behind their rivals in the race to be ready again for major competitions. Welsh elite athletes in all sports are still waiting for a green light to resume training as some of the lockdown restrictions start to ease across other parts of the UK.

Canadian centre Stephen Dixon is Cardiff Devils’ third import signing for the 2020-21 Elite League ice hockey season. Dixon followed captain Joey Martin and Joey Haddad in committing to the Devils again and there will be more player announcements over the next few weeks. “I’ve enjoyed my time in Cardiff,” said the man from Halifax in Nova Scotia. “Devils are a quality organisation from top to bottom. We have a great group of guys and great fans.”

It was the game that rescued the career of Shane Williams – Wales v New Zealand in the pool stages of the 2003 World Cup. Before the tournament, it looked as if the player who would go on to become Wales’ greatest try-scorer might not even make the plane. He did – just – as a utility third scrum-half and back-up wing.
Tonight, 17 years on, the game is being replayed and re-assessed on S4C where Williams watches the 53-37 defeat for the first time since that day in Sydney . . .